Come Up With Two Movie Ideas For Two Screenplays

Come Up Withtwomovie Ideas As In For Two Screenplays That Youd

Come Up Withtwomovie Ideas As In For Two Screenplays That Youd

Come up with TWO movie ideas -- as in for TWO screenplays that you'd be interested in writing. You will eventually choose ONE screenplay to live with for the duration of this course. You will distill each idea into a single sentence, called a LOGLINE.

A good logline:

  • Must include your PROTAGONIST.
  • Must be under 50 words.
  • Must contain the word "BUT" ("but" signifies conflict).

After you write the logline, tell us about your PROTAGONIST. What is her/his most pressing DESIRE? What are some potential OBSTACLES that can get in the way?

Try to keep it simple!

Here's an example:

MOVIE IDEA #1

WORKING TITLE: "COLLATERAL"

LOGLINE: A cab driver dreams of starting his own limo company, BUT when a hitman gets into his cab, our hero must figure out how to survive the night.

PROTAGONIST: Max (Cab Driver)

DESIRE: To stop Vincent (the Hitman)

POTENTIAL OBSTACLES: The HITMAN who never fails, THE COPS who think Max is the hitman, THE GANGSTERS who want the hitman dead, Max’s own timid and hesitant nature.

What is the INCITING INCIDENT in your two film ideas? What is the 1st ACT BREAK?

Example:

MOVIE TITLE: COLLATERAL

INCITING INCIDENT: Vincent gets into Max’s cab, makes Max an offer

1ST ACT BREAK: Body drops on Max’s cab; Reveal Vincent is a Hitman

To develop your ideas, contemplate what the worst thing that could happen to your character might be, as this often informs the inciting incident.

Paper For Above instruction

In the process of creating compelling screenplays, developing strong, engaging loglines for initial ideas is essential. A logline succinctly encapsulates the core conflict and characters, serving as a blueprint for the story’s development. To begin with, I devised two distinct movie ideas that excite my imagination and challenge my storytelling skills.

Movie Idea 1:

Working Title: "Shadows of the Past"

Logline: An aging detective relentlessly pursues a cold case, BUT when a new lead emerges, her own past mistakes threaten to derail her investigation.

My protagonist is Detective Jane Roberts, a seasoned investigator nearing retirement. Jane’s most pressing desire is to bring a notorious serial killer to justice before her career ends. Potential obstacles include her declining physical health, skepticism from her colleagues, and her own unresolved guilt over past failures.

Inciting Incident: A mysterious new witness contacts Jane, claiming to have vital information about the killer.

First Act Break: Jane discovers the witness has been murdered, deepening her resolve to solve the case and revealing her personal stake in the pursuit.

Movie Idea 2:

Working Title: "Digital Fortress"

Logline: A cybersecurity expert uncovers a government conspiracy, BUT when her findings make her a target, she must evade capture while revealing the truth to the world.

Protagonist Lisa Chen is an intelligent and resourceful cybersecurity analyst. Her most urgent desire is to expose corruption within her government agency. Obstacles include government operatives tracking her every move, her limited resources, and her moral dilemma about the consequences of her disclosures.

Inciting Incident: Lisa decrypts a secret file revealing illegal surveillance programs.

First Act Break: She’s ambushed during a routine meeting, forcing her to flee and act on her discoveries alone.

These ideas, rooted in conflict, personal stakes, and pressing obstacles, form the foundation for stories that can evolve into compelling screenplays. Developing clear inciting incidents and act breaks ensures engaging narrative arcs, encouraging character growth and thematic depth.

References

  • McKee, R. (1997). Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting. ReganBooks.
  • Syd Field. (2005). Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting. Harper Collins.
  • McConkey, C. (2013). How to Write a Logline. Film Independent. Retrieved from https://www.filmindependent.org/blog/how-to-write-a-logline/
  • Siegel, P. (2010). Crafting the Perfect Logline. International Screenwriters' Association. Retrieved from https://www.networkisa.org
  • Baker, M. (2018). The Art of the Logline. Script Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.scriptmag.com
  • Hamilton, I. (2017). Developing Inciting Incidents in Screenplay. The Script Lab. Retrieved from https://thescriptlab.com
  • Field, S. (2005). Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting. HarperCollins.
  • Aristotle. (2007). Poetics. Trans. Ingram Bywater. London: J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
  • Vogler, C. (2007). The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. Michael Wiese Productions.
  • McKee, R. (1997). Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting. ReganBooks.

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